Algeria: The killing of Professor Ahmed Kerroumi

A political activist, Professor Ahmed Kerroumi was found dead on 23rd April. He was a professor at the University of Oran and a member of both the opposition Mouvement Démocratique et Social (MDS) and the Oran section of the CNCD. Kerroumi reportedly disappeared on 19th April and, when his body was found in his MDS office in Oran four days later, reports say thathe had received several head injuries.

Because of his international political connections, his death has received greater prominence in both Algeria and internationally than the authorities might like. Only a few days before his disappearance, Kerroumi had met with the UN's Special Rapporteur and independent expert on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Frank La Rue, who reports to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council. He was on an official visit to Algeria between 10-17th April and met with many representatives of civil society, including Kerroumi.

La Rue said: “I insisted on absolute freedom to meet with whomever I considered necessary and requested full protection from the State for all those that met with me during my visit, and especially after the conclusion of the mission.” He said that he was deeply shocked by Kerroumi's killing which, he said “is tragic and unacceptable.” He called on the government to conduct a detailed and independent investigation into the killing to bring those responsible to justice.

So far, the judicial and investigative authorities have singularly failed to make much progress in tracking down Kerroumi's killer or killers. Indeed, as time has gone on, the authorities are coming up with more and more stories that smack of incredibility. They include the suggestion that it was someone trying to steal his car, to some sort of sexual motive, based on the fact that condoms had been found (or placed) in his vicinity.

Kerroumi's killing and the silence and tardiness of the judicial and investigative authorities is gaining traction in the Algerian media. Several prominent daily papers are now commenting on the fact that the silence of the authorities is feeding rumour and suspicion. And, of course, given the regime's track record in political assassinations, more and more suspicion is being directed at the DRS.

For more news and expert analysis about Algeria, please see Algeria Focus and Algeria Politics & Security.

© 2011 Menas Associates

Brazil: A new posture on human rights

On 28th February, Secretary for Human Rights Maria do Rosário addressed the UN Council on Human Rights in Geneva. Her speech was awaited with trepidation, as it was expected to signal, under Dilma Rousseff's stewardship, a radical departure from Lula's policies of abstaining from sanctions to governments that are perpetrators of human rights violations. Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Myanmar, Sudan, and Sri Lanka are examples of this policy of omission.

Do Rosário asked for an ample debate about human rights 'in all countries' (which made Iran feel uncomfortable) and specifically that Libya should be suspended from membership in all human rights bodies and agencies of the United Nations. The minister recalled that, for years, American and European countries remained silent vis-à-vis dictatorships that were politically convenient to them. She did not mention Brazil's recent silences vis-à-vis gross violators of human rights.

On behalf of Rousseff, she invited the UN Human Rights Council, which traditionally convenes in Geneva, to meet in Brazil.

For more news and expert analysis about Brazil, please see Brazil Focus.


© 2011 Menas Associates

Relations between Libya and the US strained again

The relations between Libya and the US have again been upset by minor events. The expulsion of a US diplomat has, according to sources in Tripoli, been carried through. The declaration of the diplomat as persona non grata is a small affair and seems to have been designed to embarrass the Americans and the Libyan authorities. US representation in Libya is already under par and is struggling to make a position for itself, despite the lukewarm treatment of Libya by the Obama Administration.

The tourism sector has received a considerable boost with the easing of visa restrictions for American visitors. Regular international cruise companies are once again calling into Libya to see key historic sites.

The US also courted animosity from the Libyans during the UN Human Rights Council meeting where the US spokesman decried the poor treatment of detainees and the torture which is widely reported as basic to the system of control at the Abu Selim prison and its offshoots.

In all the information circulating in the foreign and domestic media in the last week has tended to confirm US opinion that Libya has not yet qualified as an acceptable ally and for as long as petty infringements are magnified in the US State Department this position is unlikely to change.

The foreign business community might gain some confidence from the promised start of exploration operations by the major international oil companies, but without political acceptance of the Libyan regime by Washington, real progress by the US private sector in development will be inhibited.

For more news and expert analysis about Libya, please see Libya Focus and Libya Politics & Security.

© 2010 Menas Associates

Iran in need of Libyan support

Libyan relations with Iran have changed, on the surface at least; from a patronising Iran undertaking only small-scale joint projects in Libyan education, health and petroleum, to a situation where Iran apparently needs Libyan support.

In many ways, the roles of the two states have altered to give Libya a stronger position than formerly. Mutual support in the UN was clearly seen during the last few years when Iran backed a successful Libyan bid to take one of the 47 seats on the UN Human Rights Council.

This was achieved partly by a decision of the US not to blackball the Libyan leader but also by Iran's help in mustering the votes of the majority of the Asian-African bloc. Future co-operation of Libya with Iran might, in the future, generate a more antipathetic response in the US.

In mid-June, a senior member of the Islamic Republic, Dr Ali Larijani, made a strong point to the Libyan Ambassador in Iran, Sa'ad Mujber that no objections now existed to dampen an expansion of Libyan-Iranian relations.

In early July, ties were also consolidated by a series of mutual congratulations begun by the Secretary of Iran's Expediency Council Mohsen Rezaei, when he stated that relations between Tripoli and Tehran would be strengthened by agreements covering areas such as energy and construction.

At a meeting between Rezaei and Mujber, the former went out of his way to praise Colonel Qadhafi's achievements, while the Ambassador made a considerable impression when he, in turn, described Iran as an influential and powerful country in the MENA region.

The question of sanctions against Iran proposed by the UN also strengthened the Iranian wish for Libya to be on its side in reducing the weight of the new regulations introduced by the US and France. Libya has not yet officially responded to the Iran sanctions situation at the UN but is known to be against the US on the issue.

For more news and expert analysis about Iran, please see Iran Strategic Focus.

For more news and expert analysis about Libya, please see Libya Focus and Libya Politics & Security.

© 2010 Menas Associates